Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 300 Savage

24" barrel, as issued on the 700 Classic.

Once fired RP brass, Federal 210M, 41 gr. H4895, 168 gr. Berger VLD seated to 2.735" overall length, 3.055 in Sinclair nut

They average about 2550 fps. They cloverleaf three at 100 yards. At 300 yards I fired two groups, one went 2" and the other just under 1.5". These were directed via a 6x Leupold.

I do most of my hunting with a .300 Savage. I have more powerful and flatter shooting rounds that I like, but my 99 is just so comfortable. And it was THE deer caliber for many decades. It is still no slouch today. As I have said before, I would be just fine hunting anything in North America with it. Including big bears if I'm not on the ground with them. 150 grain spitzers for most things, 180 round noses for anything that needs more penetration. At the ranges you would be shooting with a .300, the round nosed bullets won't make a bit of difference in terms of the ballistics. And they are shorter than spitzers of the same weight, so you can seat them farther out while staying within the length limitations of the Model 99's magazine.

-Mb

Great post. I run 150gr Hornady SPs on top of 40gr of H-4895 through my M99EG. Shoots great with mild recoil. What's not to like?

My go-to rifle is a 1955 Savage 99F in 300 Savage. It is the ultimate deer rifle to me. It is light, points like a good bird gun, wonderfully balanced and very accurate. In addition, it has class and character. The 300 Savage round is light recoiling and just plain works for deer sized game. What more could you ask for?

Thanks, that sounds like a winner!

I have quite a few 165's, and some of the VLD's laying around. I was using them in my 30'06. That gun is now becoming a 7mm, so wasn't sure what to do with all those bullets. Looks like I will try them in my 300. Thanks again.

Love my model 99 300 savage....actually I have three..a 99R and two 99E's...I've used them for Penna. whitetails since I was 16 and think they're the perfect eastern whitetail rifle.. 150 grain remington express core-lokts work fine with all these rifles....Good Luck Joe

I killed my first deer with my father's 99EG. I later scoped it and added sling swivels and a recoil pad (and am kicking myself now) but I used that gun as my only deer rifle for 20 years. It never let me down. My uncle had one too, scoped and slinged. I was copying my uncle's rifle when I scoped it. My uncle's had "Montana mounts" on it, a quick detachable system made in Livingston MT that I really liked. I've never seen another set, but have seen ads for them in old (1950s) American Rifleman magazines.
I use a .260 Remington now, and love it, but plan to take the .300 out again soon. It groups a little less than 2" at 100 yards every time. Good enough for me.

Generally, a substantial increase in powder burned only results in a modest velocity increase. For this reason, the .300 Savage produces ballistics extremely close to the .308. I acquired a 99EG (1947-48 vintage) last year. A very close friend gave me a set of RCBS dies and 140 rounds of once-fired brass and I began loading the .300 Savage for the first time. The rifle is a pleasure to shoot and far more accurate than two previous 99s I've owned.

This rifle/cartridge combination is readily capable of taking anything in North America although I think I'd prefer something heavier for anything that shoots back. Also, casual hunters can shoot the .300 Savage more accurately than a harder kicking rifle, resulting in more efficient kills.

I would love to spend a little time tinkering/loading for and shooting a .300 savage. One of these days maybe I will pick one up.

My ol' bubba special EG in 300 has become my primary rifle lately. I had it D/T because a horrible reblue and "custom" stock work had already destroyed the value. 150 grain Speer GS and 39.5 grains of IMR 4064 groups right at 1 MOA. A joy to shoot and great on elk, let alone deer. I love it, even though it is about the ugliest Sav 99 I have ever seen.

I'd love to have one in a Savage 99...what a great cartridge. My problem is I want too many rifles and not enough money.

I have a cousin who is hoarding a beautiful little '99 in 300sav. He hasn't shot it in a dozen years yet he still won't let it go and sell it to me. That rifle deserves to be used and not just be sitting in the safe.

Calhoun, that is a really nice picture of your 99 with a buck.

I've never hunted with the 300 Savage, but one of my brother in laws had one in a Remingon Model 8 auto, and that was his western go to deer rifle for a long time. He hunted on horseback often, and that setup served him well.